Andre Smith is having a rough start to his NFL career. The No. 6 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft reportedly broke the fifth metatarsal of his left foot this week and will definitely miss this weekend’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

But Smith, who has started just four games in his two years in the league, is headed for surgery on the foot and could be done for the season. The, um, large right tackle was impressive as a dominating blocker at Alabama, but his personal issues, a contract holdout, problems staying in shape and injuries have put him in the headlines for all the wrong reasons since leaving college.

It looked as if Smith had found his place this season in Cincinnati, after starting the past three games. But there have also been complaints about his work ethic, and his weight. Smith is currently listed at 6’4, 340 pounds.

Last season Smith broke the fourth metatarsal in the same foot and was out eight weeks without undergoing surgery.

This offseason the Bengals have to decide whether or not to exercise a $5 million option that would extend Smith’s contract to six years, as opposed to the four years as it currently stands. So this injury could end up costing Smith a significant amount of cash.

And when you consider that he lost to a giant stingray in a head-to-head matchup on this here site last year, things could certainly be going better for Andre Smith.